Monday, December 11, 2006

T.J.'s As-Promised Year In Review 2006!

Everybody does this, don't they? Look back at the year they had and wonder where all that time went? Since I am cooler than everyone else (unless I've previously told you that you are cooler than me) my YIR will be much cooler than all those others.
At least, I think so. Amazingly, 2006 was a year of semi-bridled positivity for me. No major tragedies or anything really to look back and say, "Wow, that sucked so much I never want to talk about it again." Anyway, on with the show.
Best Movie: Stranger Than Fiction. The only movie I saw twice in one week this entire year. Honorable mentions go to Slither, Feast, and Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny.

Best Book: Cell by Stephen King. This came out in January and no other book that came out this year impressed me as much. Honorable mentions to Anasazi Boys by Neil Gaiman and A Thousand Good Prayers by Yiyun Li.

Best Music: Halestorm. Halestorm. Halestorm. If the world goes right you will all hear more about them next year when their first full length album comes out. Honorable mentions: Educated Horses by Rob Zombie, Rockstar Supernova (even though they picked the WRONG vocalist), and We Are Pilots by Shiny Toy Guns.

Best TV: Rockstar Supernova. Dilana should have won and Storm is still my favorite. I haven't actually watched TV for real for most of the last third of this year, so maybe I missed out on somethings, but I'm not too worried about it.

Ok, that is the "best of" list. Now for more personal reviewing.

This year, I went on more dates than I have in....um....well....a really long time. Thank you to all the girls that went out with me, even though none of those dates turned into relationships. I'm okay with that, too. The more dates i go on, the more likely I am to find the one of you out there meant to be with me.

2006 was also my most productive writing year EVER! thanks to multiple writing classes and work on two separate newspapers, I have more decent work to show people than ever before. granted, not all of it is great, but there is definitely something to having to produce adequate work multiple times a week that can make any writer better. Now, if only I could finish my damn novel. (It's coming, really. I might start posting chapters here for those of you who have been waiting for a taste.)

The other two big accomplishments of 2006 were getting my Associates degree from CCSN and (finally) getting my driver's license. Now I know that a lot of people have these things before they are 20, 25 at the latest. I just do things differently. You should all know that by now. It is done, that is what counts. I'm well on my way to the Bachelor's degree and driving regularly (when the Hell-Bitch wants to go, that is.)

If this were the Oscars or my novel, I would have a list of people to thank. It isn't but I'm going to thank a few people anyway. Here goes (and in no real order, so don't get pissed if you are toward the bottom of the list. Just think of all the people who didn't make the list):
Mom and Pop, for putting up with me over the summer and helping me along when I've needed help. Dad for calling me even if I don't answer. Karen Laing for calling me from Vegas just to talk. The Gibson family for three great years: I miss you guys! Dr. Campo for deciding I should be in charge of Coyote Press: it was a wild semester and put me on a path that I'm still on now. John, Joel and Leslie, three of the best professors ever who don't seem to mind that I call them by their first names now. Gina (Joel's wife) for building my confidence and sharing her own stories with me. My fellow students in ENG 205 (Las Vegas), 291, 293, and 309 (Moscow) for understanding that sometimes I just have to talk and not getting too pissed off about me never raising my hand. Sasha for knowing I named a character after a Misfit. All my staff at Coyote Press, we rocked! Harley and Pam, two women who will never meet each other but were both honest enough with me so that I didn't get crazy. Pam and Mark for being there and for picking me up at the airport tomorrow. Amy, still my best friend who I don't talk to enough, but that I vow never to lose contact with. Brianna, my rocker, for enjoying some good ol' rock and roll with me, and letting me feel important. Mark and Leslie, for hanging out in Portland with me in March and letting me hang out in Eugene for Thanksgiving, and all that other stuff, too.

There area bunch more people I should thank but it is starting to get mushy and that isn't my style. One last thank you and this year in review (shorter than I thought it would be) is done.

To everyone who has followed this blog and encouraged me to do what I want to do: THANK YOU! With out all of you, I'd probably consider getting a "real job" again. If things work out, I'll never have a "real job" again.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Sunday, December 03, 2006

CLassical Headbanging

If you can watch this video and not love both Clasical music and heavy metal, then you suck. Bad.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw0TikGmVz4


(I tried to post the video but it wouldn't let me. Stew Pidazho.)

While this now under the label "Gods of Rock" Apocalyptica is more like a demi-God.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Like a I need a hole in my head

For some of you who've known me for a while, this would be pre-Vegas, I used to have my right eyebrow pierced. Well today I went and got it done again.

Funny thing i sthat it didn't hurt as much nor did it bleed as much as it did the first time. Of course, i didn't have a super hot woman doing the piercing, so I guess it's a toss up.

I like it. Reminds me of my rebellios and anarchic ideals.

Yes, I know that having a piercing is no longer as rebellios as it once was. When I had my original piercing, I never saw anyone else with a pierced brow. Now, they are everywhere.

I don't care. I'm not trendy. I do what I want. If a lot of other eople just happen to want to do the same thing, good for them.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Snowblind

It keeps snowing. Every morning there is more snow on the ground than when I went to sleep. Sure, I kind of expected it and I'm not really complaining. I'm just wondering when enough is enough?

This morning on my way to class, I almost died three times. Stepped right on ice patches that nearly caused me to tumble downhill. I don't want to die in the cold. (I don't want to die in the heat, either, but I survived that. I guess I can survive this, too.)

All I'm asking for is one day without added accumulation. Please.